FURTHER - ELEMENTS - SCOTLAND
Corrour Railway Station
24TH TO THE 27TH OCTOBER 2024
“Yet often the mountain gives itself most completely when I have no destination, when I reach nowhere in particular, but have gone out merely to be with the mountain as one visits a friend with no intention but to be with him.”
Nan Shepherd, The Living Mountain
Further Scotland carries on the spirit of the original Further in the Pyrénées. Which is about challenging and pushing boundaries. If Further in the Pyrénées is a challenge of off-roading and hike-a-bike in a mountainous region, Scotland will be a challenge against the elements in the late autumn in the Scottish highlands. Further wishes to challenge what the mainstream is marketing. Five years ago, a hike-a-bike event was seen as a quirk, we are now seeing this kind of adventure in every corner of cycling life.
When we think about Scotland as a bicycle destination we immediately think of MTB and gravel. The HT550. But for Further, the interesting side of Scotland is the sparse road network. Further Scotland will be mostly about roads, tarmac with potholes and some rough stuff to link remote dead end roads.
The last weekend of October the weather can kill in the Highlands, the riders will need to take a considerable amount of kit. It will be heavy bike packing, the minimalist approach will not be acceptable. In terms of Bike packing events, Further Scotland is a sprint, but will be tactical for the participants.
Key points of the Scottish event
Start at Dawn 25th October at Corrour Railway Station
Finish by the night of 27th October at Corrour Railway Station
Kit requirement will be strictly enforced
Distance approx 700 km +9000 m / -9000 m. ( dependent on final recce recon )
Road 600 km and 100 km offroad ( dependent on final recce recon )
